Dyeing-machine.



G. E. DRUM & J. H. SKITT.

DYBING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED AUG-23,1910.

973,487, Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

6 SHEETS-BHEET 1.

INVENTO G. E. DRUM 6: J; H. SKITT.

DYEING MAOHINE.

APPLICATION TILED 16.23, 1910.

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. Mrssss M l G. E. DRUM & J. 11. SKITT. DYEING MACHINE; APPLIULTIOK FILED AUG/23, 1910.

973,487. Patented 001;.25,19 10.

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G. E. DRUM 6: J. H. SKITT.

DYEING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED AUG. 23, 1910.

973,487, Patented 0ct.25, 1910.

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INVENTORS.

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DYBING MACHINE.

ARPLIOATIDI FILED AUG. 23, 1910.

Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

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G. E. DRUM & J. H. SKITT.

DYBING MACHINE.

APPLIUATIOH FILED AUG. 23, 1910.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

INVENTORS.

51, M J+. swab UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. DRUM AND JAMES H. SKITT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AS-

SIGNORS TO SAID DRUM AND ROBERT VANIA.

P. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- DYEING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 23,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE E. DRUM, a citizen of the United States, and Lines H. Snrr'r, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dyeing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention, as generally stated, is to provide in a dyeing machine, a novel, simple and efficient construction and organization of parts including a vat, a rotatable carrier provided with a compartment or compartments to receive the articles to be dyed, means for actuating the carrier and means for casuing the dyeing liquor to flow through the vat, whereby the dyeing liquor while being actuated to flow continuously through the vat in one direction will be caused by a wall or walls of the compartment or compartments of the carrier to flow through the compartment or compartments in one direction in one position of the compartment or compartments of the carrier with respect to the path of the d eing liquor and in another direction in another position of the com artment or compartments of the carrier wit respect to the path of the dyeing liquor.

The invention includes various novel features of construction and combinations of arts, all of which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly claimed.

In the draw1ngs:Fi vation of our improve dyeing machine. Fig. 2 is a lan view thereof, partly broken awa ig. 3 is a vertical section, on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical section, on line 44.of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the machine. Fig. 6 is a vertical section, on line 66 of F1 4. Fig. 7 is a detail in section of the latch or locking device for one of the doors forming one of the inner walls of the carrier. Fi 8 is a detail in section of the latch or loc ing device for one of the doors forming a part of the outer cylindrical wall of the carrier.

10 designates a vat adapted to contain the dyeing liquor. This vat 10 includes the side walls 11 and 12 forming sup orts for the vat and a curved or substantia ly semicircular wal113 extending between and connected to the side walls 11 and 12. The vat 10 is re 1 is a side eleprovided with a cover 14 which includes side walls 15 and an upper wall 16. The cover 14 is provided with laterally disposed projecting arms 17 which are pivoted, as at 18, to brackets 19 on the top of the vat. The outer ends of the arms 17 are provided with counterweights 20 for the cover 14, the counterweights 20 being adj ustably mounted on the arms 17. It Wlll thus be seen that the cover 14 may be readily moved on the pivot 18, to raise the cover from the top of the vat to afford access to the interior thereof.

In order to raise the cover 14 from the vat 10 and lower it upon the same, we pro vide two hand levers 21, one on each side of the vat. These levers 21 are secured to and project from a shaft 22 which extends through the side walls 11 and 12 of the vat. Each lever 21 is connected by a link 23 to a bracket on the arm 17 on the same side of the vat. By moving either of the levers 21 by hand toward the left from the position shown, the cover 14 will be raised from the vat, and then by returning the levers 21 to the position shown, the cover 14 will be returned to the top of the vat.

Arranged within the vat 10 is a carrier 24 for the articles to be dyed, which carrier is of the following construction :-25 designates a centrally-arranged, horizontal shaft on which are mounted end heads 26 and 27 forming the end walls of the carrier. The end heads 26 and 27 are connected by an outer cylindrical wall 28 and by an inner rectangular wall 29 inclosing a central chamber 30 through which the shaft 25 extends. The space between the outer wall 28 and inner wall 29 is divided into four compartments 31 by partition walls 32, 33, 34 and 35 which extend between the end heads and from the inner wall 29 to and beyond the outer wall 28, the outer edges of the walls 32, 33, 34 and 35 being adapted to move substantially in engagement with the inner face of the curved wall 13 of the vat when the carrier is rotated about the axis of the shaft 25. The inner wall 29 is formed of screens, as shown, which are suitably secured at the four corners of the wall to angle irons 36 extending between the end heads 26 and 27 The outer wall 28 includes four doors 37 one for each compartment 31, each door extending the length of the carrier 24 between its end heads 26 and 27. Each door 37 is hinged, as at 38, to one of the partition walls of the carrier, and each door 37 is provided with notches 39 (Fig. 8) adapted to be engaged by latch members 40 to retain the doors in closed )osition, as shown. Each latch member 40 1s slidingly fitted to a housing 41 on the outer wall 28 and is movable therein into and from engagement with the adjacent notch 39; and each latch member 40 is provided with an opening therein in which is arranged a spring 42, one end of which engages a pin 43 projecting from the wall 28 an the other end of which engages the member 40 and tends to project it into the adjacent notch 39. Each latch member 40 has a part 44 extending outside its housing 41 and provided with teeth which are engaged by the teeth of a toothed sector 45. The toothed sectors 45 of the latch members 40 for each door 37 are secured to a com mon shaft 46 having its bearings in parts of the Wall 28; and each shaft 46 is provided with a suitable handle 47 whereby it may be turned to cause its sectors 45 to engage the teeth of their latch members 40 and withdraw them from engagement with the notches 39 in the adjacent door. It will thus be seen that by turning the shafts 46 to withdraw the latch members 40 from their notches 39 the doors 37 may be opened outwardly on their hinges 38 to afford ac cess to the compartments 31. The ends of the latch members 40 which enter the notches 39 arebeveled, as shown, whereby when the doors are closed they will engage the beveled ends of the members 40 and force them back against their springs 42, whereupon the springs 42 will project the members 40 into their notches 39 to maintain the doors 37 closed.

The main body of the entire outer wall 28 including the doors 37 is made in skeletonform, as shown, and covered by a screen 48 suitably secured to the skeleton body sepa rate pieces of screen being secured to the doors 37 so as to open and close therewith. It will therefore be understood that the dyeing liquor within the vat 10 may flow freely through the outer wall 28 of the carrier 24 and into and out of the compartments 31. It will also be understood that the dyeing liquor may flow freely from one compartment 31 to another through the inner screen wall 29 and central compartment 30. The partition walls 32, 33, 34 and 35 are constructed of sheet metal in a manner to prevent the dyeing liquor from flowing therethrough and to control the flow of the liquor through the compartments 31 as will be hereinafter explained.

That portion of the partition walls 33 and 35 extending between the inner .wall 29 and outer wall 28 of the carrier 24 constitutes doors 94 and 95 respectively hinged alon their inner edges as at 96 and 97, to two 0 the angle irons 36. The outer ortion of each door 94 and 95 is provided wlth notches 98 (Fig. 7) adapted to be engaged by latch members 99 to retain the doors 94 and 95 in the positions shown. Each latch memher is slidingly fitted to a housing on the outer portions of the adjacent partition walls 33 and 35 and is movable therein into and from engagement with the adjacent notch 98; and each latch member 99 is provided with an opening or depression 48 therein into which extends one end of an arm 49. The arms 49 for the latch members 99 of each door 94 and 95 are secured to a common shaft 50 having its bearings in parts of the outer portions of the walls 33 and 35 of the carrier 24. Each shaft 50 is turned by springs 51 interposed between the outer wall 28 of the carrier 24 and arms 52 projecting from each shaft 50, the springs tending to turn the shafts in a manner to cause the arms 49 to project the latch members 99 into their notches 98. Each shaft 50 is provided with a suitable handle 53 by means of which it may be turned to cause the arms 49 to withdraw the latch members 99 from engagement with the notches 98 to permit the doors 94 and 95 to be moved on their hinges 96 and 97.

The ends of the latch members 99 that enter the notches 98 are beveled, as shown, whereby when-the doors 94 and 95 are moved to the position shown in the drawings, said doors will engage the beveled ends of the members 99 and force them-back against the action of the springs 51 whereupon the springs will turn the shaft 50 in a manner to cause the arms 49 to project the members 99 into their notches 98 to maintain the doors 94 and 95 in the position shown in the drawlngs.

The end heads 26 and-27 of the carrier 24 are provided with suitable brackets 54 and 55 respectively, by means of which the carrier 24 may be lifted from its position within the vat 10 and held in suspension for apurpose hereinafter described.

When the carrier 24 is within the vat 10, as shown in the drawings, the ends of the shaft 25 of the carrier rest within suitable bearings 56 and 57 secured to the side walls 11 and 12 respectively, of the vat. These bearings 56 and 57 are open at their tops to permit the ends of the shaft 25 to ass out of the same when the carrier 24 1s lifted from the vet and to permit the ends of the shaft to enter the bearings when the carrier is lowered into the vat.

Supported on one side of the vat 10 and extending outwardly therefrom are two casings 60, each of which incloses a verticallyarranged chamber 61. The upper ortion of each chamber 61 communicates with the vat 10 by means of a passageway 62 below the top of the vat and above the horizontal lane of the center of the carrier 24. The ower portion of each chamber 61 communicates with a passageway 63 formed in the wall 13 and communicating with the lower central portion of the vat 10, the passageway 63 extending the full width of the vat or substantially so.

Located in each chamber 61 is a horizontally-arranged propeller 64; and these propellers 64 are adapted to be actuated to drive the dyeing liquor down through the chambers 61 and passageway 63 and into the lower central portion of the vat 10, and at the same time draw the dyeing liquor from the upper portion of the vat through the passageways 62 and into the chambers 61.

The propellers 64 are secured to the lower ends of vertically-arranged shafts 65 which are journaled in suitable bearings on the easings 60. The upper ends of the shafts 65 extend through the top walls of the casings 60 and are provided with beveled gear wheels 66 which coact with similar oppositely-disposed wheels 67 on a shaft 68 which is journaled in bearings 69 on the tops of the casings 60. It will thus be seen that when the shaft 68 is turned, the shafts 65 will be turned in opposite directions, and therefore the propellers 64 are made right and left, so that the dyeing liquor will be driven down through both chambers 61 when the shaft 68 is turned in one direction.

The shaft 68 is provided with a sprocket wheel 70 around which passes a sprocket chain 71 extending to and passing around a sprocket wheel 72 on a horizontal driving shaft 73 which is mounted in bearings 74 on the bottoms of the casings 60 and bearings 75 on the end walls 11 and 12 of the vat. One end of this driving shaft 73 is provided with a suitable pulley 76 by means of which power may be applied thereto to turn it and thereby actuate the propellers 64. The other end of the driving shaft 73 is provided with a beveled gear wheel 77 coacting with a similar wheel 78 on the upper end of an incline shaft 79 which is mounted to turn in a bearing 80 secured to the side wall 11 of the vat. The lower end of the shaft 79 extends into and is fitted to turn in bearings formed on a casing 81 which is supported by arms 82 projecting from a plate 83 secured to the side wall 11 of the Vat 10. Secured to the shaft 79 within the casing 81 is a worm 84 coacting with a worm wheel 85 also located within the casing 81. This worm wheel 85 is secured to the outer end of a shaft 86 which extends through a bearing formed on the casing 81 and through a stufling box 87 formed on the plate 83 and extending into the wall 11. The shaft 86 extends through the stufling box 87 into the interior of the lower portion of the vat 10 and is provided on its inner end with a pinion 88 in mesh with the teeth of a gear wheel 89 formed on the end head 26 of the carrier 24. It will thus be seen that when power is applied to the driving shaft 73 to actuate the propellers 64 to circulate the dyeing liquor, as previously described, the shafts 79 and 87 will be rotated in a manner to cause the pinion 88 to slowly rotate the carrier 24 within the vat 10. During the rotation of the carrier 24 the outer edges of the walls 32, 33, 34 and 35 move substantially in engagement with the inner curved face 90 of the wall 13 during their travel below the horizontal plane of the axis of the carrier, and also between the inner ends of the passageways 62 and 63 where they communicate with the vat 10. It will therefore be understood that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the dyeing liquor will flow from the passageway 63 into the outer portion of the compartment 31 between the walls 34 and 35, thence to the central chamber 30 and thence from the inner portion to the outer portion of the compartment 31 formed between the walls 32 and 33. It will also be understood that immediately after the outer edge of the wall 34 leaves the passageway 63, the dyeing liquor will cease to flow inwardly through the compartments 31 between the walls 34 and 35 and will flow inwardly through the compartment 31 between the walls 33 and 34. It will also be understood that after the outer edge of the wall 32 leaves the passageway 62 the dyeing liquor will cease to flow outwardly through the compartment 31 between the walls 32 and 33 and will flow outwardly through the compartment 31 between the walls 32 and 35. It therefore follows that as the compartments 31 successively pass the passage way 62, the dyeing liquor will flow outwardly therethrough, and thatas the compartments 31 successively pass the passageway 63, the dyeing liquor will flow inwardly therethrough, thus causing the dyeing liquor to flow through the compartments 31 in two directions during the actuation of the carrier 24, while the dyeing liquor is driven continuously in a single direction.

The pinion 88 is located with relation to the gear wheel 89 to permit the gear wheel 89 to move from engagement with the pinion 88 when the carrier 24 is raised from the vat and suspended in position above the same by any suitable means engaged with the brackets 54 and 55, as previously mentioned. When the carrier is thus suspended above the vat, the doors 37 may be opened, and the articles to be dyed placed within the compartments 31, after which the doors 37 may be closed and the carrier 24 lowered into the vat 10 and the gear wheel 89 reengaged with the pinion 88. This being done, power is applied to the driving shaft 73, thereby causing the carrier 24 to rotate and the dyeing liquor to circulate, as previously described.

The rotation of the carrier 24 tumbles the articles to be dyed within the compartments 31, which, together with the dyeing liquor flowing through the compartments 31 in different directions at different times,causes the articles to be dyed to be thoroughly subjected to the action of the dyeing liquor. After the articles to be dyed have been thus subjected to the dyeing liquor a sufficient length of time, the carrier 24: is again raised from the vat 10 by any suitable means engaged with the brackets 54; and 55 and transferred to a suitable point of discharge for the articles contained within the compartments 31, after which the doors 37 of the two lower compartments 31 may be opened to permit the articles to be discharged from the lower compartments, and the doors 94c and 95 may then be opened to permit the articles in the two upper compartments to be discharged or removed from the carrier through the two lower compartments.

We claim 1. In a dyein machine, the combination of a vat; walls Iorming a passageway lead ing to and communicating with the vat at two different points; means for causing dyeing liquor to flow through said passageway and said vat; a rotatable carrier within said vat, said carrier including walls forming a com artment to receive the articles to be dye and the walls of the compartment having openings therein; and means for actuating the carrier; the walls of the com partment causing the dyeing liquor to flow through the compartment in one direction when the carrier is in one position and to flow through the compartment in a reverse direction when the carrier is in another position.

2. In adyeing machine, the combination of a vat; walls forming a passageway leading to and communicating with the vat at two different points; means for causing dyein liquor to flow through said passageway an said vat; a rotatable carrier within said vat, said carrier including walls formin a compartment to receive the articles to In dyed, and the walls of the compartment having openings therein; and means for actuating the carrier; one wall of said compartment movin substantially in engagement with a wall 0 the vat between said points during the actuation of the carrier, and the walls of the compartment causing the dyeing liqnor to flow through the compartment in one direction when the carrier is in one position and to flow through the compartment in a reverse direction when the carrier is in another position.

3. In a dyeing machine, the combination of a vat; walls forming a passageway leading to and communicating with the vat at two diflierent points; means for causing dyeing liquor to flow through said passageway and said vat; a rotatable carrier within said vat; and means for actuating the carrier; said carrier including walls dividing the carrier into a plurality of com aartments to receive the articles to be dyed, said compartments communicating with each other at the central portion of the carrier and communicating with the vat at the outer portion of the carrier, the outer portions of said walls moving substantially in engagement with a wall of the vat through a portion of their path of travel during the actuation of the carrier, and the walls of the compartments causing the dyeing liquor to flow through said compartments successively first in one direction and then in a reverse direction.

4. In a dyeing machine, the combination of a vat; walls forming a passageway leading to and communicating with the vat at two difierent points; means for causing dyeing liquor to How through said passageway and said vat; a rotatable carrier within said vat; means for actuating the carrier; said carrier including walls dividing the carrier into a lurality of compartments to receive the articles to be dyed, said compartments communicating with each other at the central portion of the carrier and communicating with the vat at the outer portion of the carrier, the outer portions of said walls moving substantially in engagement with a wall of the vat through a portion of their path of travel during the. actuation of the carrier, and the walls of the compartments causing the dyeing liquor to flow through said compartments successively first in one direction and then in a reverse direction, a hinged door for each compartment; and means for holding each door in its closed position.

5. In a dyeing machine, the combination of a vat; walls forming a passageway leading to and communicating with the vat at two different points; means for causing dyeing liquor to flow through said passageway and said vat a rotatable carrier within said vat; and means for actuating the carrier; said carrier including walls forming two adjacent compartments divided by a partition wall to receive the articles to be dyed, said partition wall moving substantially in engagement with a wall of the vat between said points during the actuation of the carrier and said partition wall controlling the 4 direction of flow of the dyeing liquor.

6. In a dyeing machine, the combination of a vat; walls forming a passageway leading to and communicating with the vat at two difierent points; the vat being provlded with a curved wall between said points;

means for causing dyeing liquor to flow throu h said passageway and said vat; a rotata le carrier within said vat, said carrier including walls forming a compartment to receive the articles to be dyed, and the walls of the compartment having openings therein; and means for actuating the carrier; one wall of said compartment moving substantially in engagement with said curved wall through a portion of its path of travel during the actuation of the carrier and said partition wall controlling the direction of flow of the dyeing liquor.

7. In a dyeing machine, the combination of a vat; walls forming a passageway leading to and communicating with the vat at two different points; the vat being provided with a curved wall between said points; means for causing dyeing liquor to flow through said passageway and said vat; a rotatable carrier within said vat, said carrier including walls forming a compartment to receive the articles to be dyed, and the walls of the compartment having openings therein; and means for actuating the carrier; said carrier including walls forming two adjacent compartments divided by a partition wall to receive the articles to be dyed, said partition wall moving substantially in engagement with said curved wall through a portion of its path of travel during the actuation of the carrier and said partition wall controlling the direction of flow of the dyeing liquor.

8. In a dyeing machine, the combination of a vat; walls forming a passageway leading to and communicating with the vat at two different points; the vat being provided with a curved wall between sa1d points; means for causing dyeing liquor to flow through said passageway and said vat; a rotatable carrier within said vat; and means for actuating the carrier; said carrier including end heads, an outer wall extending between said end heads around the outer portions thereof and partition walls dividing the space within said outer wall into compartments to receive the articles to be dyed, said compartments communicating with each other at the central portion of the carrier, said outer wall including screens, said partition walls moving substantially in engagement with said curved wall through a portion of their path of travel during the actuation of the carrier and said partition walls controlling the direction of How of the dyeing liquor.

9. In a dyeing machine, the combination of a vat; walls forming a passageway leading to and communicating with the vat at two different points; the vat being provided with a curved wall between said points; means for causing dyeing liquor to flow through said passageway and said vat; a rotatable carrier within said vat; and means for actuating the carrier; said carrier including end heads, an outer wall extending between said end heads, an inner wall extending between said end heads and inclosing a central chamber and partition walls dividing the space between said outer and inner Walls into compartments to receive the articles to be dyed, said outer and inner walls including screens, said partition walls moving substantially in engagement with said curved wall through a portion of their path of travel during the actuation of the carrier and said partition walls controlling the direction of flow of the dyeing liquor.

In testimony whereof we afiiX our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. DRUM. JAMES H. SKITT. Witnesses:

GEO. E. Porrs, IRMA BAETZEL. 

